Poole: Warriors GM Myers in the spotlight

OAKLAND -- Behind the on-demand smile on Bob Myers' face was a man grappling with the moment. The Warriors general manager was in unfamiliar territory, a co-star instead of a supporting performer.

He was not obscured by the cocksure disposition of his boss, Warriors CEO Joe Lacob, not in the shadows behind fervently passionate presence of coach Mark Jackson. Not even Jerry West was around to soak up the spotlight simply by being his legendary self.

As it should be for Myers, at least this once, for no one in this resurrected organization has been more effective in such a brief period. In only 14 months, he has cooled what customarily was among the hottest seats in the Bay Area sports.

The GM on Thursday shared the stage with tangible proof of his latest parlor trick, turning two players at the end of the bench and a third recovering from devastating injury into All-Star forward Andre Iguodala.

"I was fully prepared for it not to happen, expecting it not to happen," Myers said with a sigh. "But hoping it would."

Even those unfamiliar with the ghastly salary obligations to Richard Jefferson ($11 million) and Andris Biedrins ($9 mil) might concede this is more impressive than pulling a thoroughbred out of a hat.

As Myers and Iguodala chatted with media and posed for pictures, the GM appeared totally comfortable with his stealth status. He kept turning the focus to the player, kept lauding the efforts of Lacob and Jackson and co-managing partner Peter Guber, who made a perfunctory appearance after the news conference.

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No question the Warriors front office operates as a team, with Lacob's boundless drive setting the tone. But Myers clearly is more than a cog in the wheel of the franchise he followed as a kid in the East Bay, playing hoops at Monte Vista High in Danville.

Six weeks before his promotion last April, the then-assistant GM was the architect behind the trade that brought Andrew Bogut to the Warriors. Two months after being promoted, Myers drafted three players who not only made the team but actually were key contributor to a turnaround season.

The odds of getting three players in one draft are about the same as hitting three jackpots on Vegas slots.

Myers won his only trade last summer, moving forward Dorell Wright for guard Jarrett Jack, and then succeeded with his only free agent, forward Carl Landry.

All of which resulted in the Warriors' deepest postseason run in two generations, making Myers 1-for-1 in playoff seasons.

I asked Myers if there was a time when he might have visualized such a phenomenal start as an NBA executive.

"No. I couldn't. I didn't," he said. "I still have moments where I think this is not really that real."

Understand, now, Myers still is growing into his role. After 14 years on the other side -- he was a player agent from 1997 to 2011 -- he's carefully navigating his way, trying to capture the nuance and balance required of the position.

But the endless maneuvers that delivered Iguodala were, for Myers, a difficult test of executive skill. He aced it.

"The hours that you put in are extremely expensive," he said. "You're really working a lot. And this (effort) actually consummated in a player. A lot of times, this doesn't happen. This easily could have not happened and we'd have nothing to show for it -- except for effort."

Instead, triumph. Iguodala was the best player on a Denver team that won 58 games before being bounced by the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.

Moreover, Iggy is a Warrior because he was impressed by the franchise. That a star would discount himself for the Warriors is real progress.

Like Lacob, Myers is getting things done at a pace previously unknown to the organization.

Like Jackson, Myers is proceeding with faith and absolute conviction.

All three are collaborating to wipe away decades of scorn and stigma. Lacob walked in and immediately promised a new day. Jackson introduced himself by vowing that "things be changing" with this franchise.

Upon moving into the seat that had been occupied by veteran executive Larry Riley, Myers made no such grand proclamations. He said 14 months ago that he thought the Warriors would better in 2012-13 than they were in 2011-12.

He was more prophetic than he could have imagined, with no sign of slowing down.